Jeremiah 44:3

Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, [and] to serve other gods, whom they knew not, [neither] they, ye, nor your fathers.

Because {H6440} of their wickedness {H7451} which they have committed {H6213} to provoke me to anger {H3707}, in that they went {H3212} to burn incense {H6999}, and to serve {H5647} other {H312} gods {H430}, whom they knew {H3045} not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers {H1}.

It came about because of the wicked things they did to make me angry - sacrificing to and serving other gods, whom they did not know, neither they, nor you nor your ancestors.

because of the evil they have done. They provoked Me to anger by continuing to burn incense and to serve other gods that neither they nor you nor your fathers ever knew.

because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, that they knew not, neither they, nor ye, nor your fathers.

Context of Jeremiah 44:3

Jeremiah 44:3 is part of a powerful prophetic message delivered by the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish remnant who had fled to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. Specifically, this verse addresses the people dwelling in Pathros (Upper Egypt). Jeremiah reminds them of the devastating judgment that fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, not as a random calamity, but as a direct consequence of their persistent sin, particularly idolatry. The preceding verses (Jeremiah 44:1, Jeremiah 44:2) set the stage, emphasizing the desolation of Judah as a warning against their continued rebellion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Anger and Judgment: The verse explicitly states that God's anger was provoked by the people's "wickedness." This highlights God's righteous indignation against sin, particularly against idolatry, which is a betrayal of the covenant relationship.
  • The Sin of Idolatry: The primary transgression cited is "burning incense, and to serve other gods." This refers to the pagan practices adopted by Israel, where they worshipped deities unknown to them, their ancestors, or their current generation. This was a direct violation of the first commandment.
  • Historical Pattern of Disobedience: The phrase "whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers" underscores the long history of Israel's apostasy. It implies that these foreign gods were not part of their heritage or the true God's revelation, yet generations persisted in worshipping them. This generational pattern of sin led to severe consequences, as seen in the destruction of their homeland.
  • Consequences of Rebellion: The verse serves as a stark reminder that God's judgment is a just response to ongoing rebellion and rejection of His commands. The suffering and exile were not arbitrary but the direct result of their choices.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "provoke me to anger" translates the Hebrew word ka'as (כעס), which signifies deep displeasure, vexation, and righteous indignation. It's not a fleeting emotion but a settled, just reaction to the people's persistent and deliberate rebellion against His holy character. The emphasis on "other gods, whom they knew not" highlights the foreignness and emptiness of these idols, contrasting them sharply with the personal, revealed God of Israel, Yahweh.

Significance and Application

Jeremiah 44:3 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Exclusivity of Worship: God demands exclusive devotion. Any form of idolatry, whether worshipping literal idols or placing anything (money, career, pleasure, self) above God, provokes His displeasure. We are called to worship the one true God alone.
  • Learning from History: The verse serves as a warning against repeating past mistakes. The people of Judah faced judgment because they refused to learn from the errors of their ancestors. We must heed biblical warnings and not ignore the consequences of disobedience.
  • God's Unchanging Character: This verse reaffirms God's holiness and His intolerance for sin. While His mercy is vast, His justice is equally sure. Understanding this can lead to a deeper reverence and commitment to living righteously.
  • The Danger of the Unknown: Worshipping "gods whom they knew not" speaks to the danger of seeking spiritual fulfillment outside of God's revealed truth. True knowledge and life are found only in Him (John 17:3).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 29:26

    For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and [whom] he had not given unto them:

  • Deuteronomy 32:17

    They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new [gods that] came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

  • Deuteronomy 13:6

    ¶ If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which [is] as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

  • Jeremiah 44:8

    In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

  • Nehemiah 9:33

    Howbeit thou [art] just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

  • Daniel 9:5

    We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

  • Ezekiel 8:17

    Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen [this], O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.

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